He will play the vice president in the summer drama series.

Animals centers on Elaine Barrish (Sigourney Weaver), a divorced former first lady and current secretary of state, who is struggling to keep her family together while simultaneously dealing with the crises of the State Department. She finds an unlikely ally in a famous D.C. journalist (Carla Gugino), who has spent her career tearing Elaine down.

Baker will recur as Vice President Fred Collier, supporting President Paul Garcetti (Adrian Pasdar). Described as a seemingly sweet man, Collier is a fierce combatant of Elaine's with secrets that will ultimately be revealed.

Berlanti wrote and will direct the first episode, while Oscar-winning costume designer Ann Roth (The English Patient) will design Weaver's wardrobe for the pilot. Berlanti, Mark and Sarah Caplan (Brothers and Sisters, GCB) serve as EPs, with Melissa Kellner Berman as co-EP.

The project, debuting at 10 p.m. July 15, comes from Berlanti Productions and Laurence Mark Productions in association with Warner Horizon Television.

Repped by Paradigm, Baker is no stranger to USA, having guested on White Collar, Monk and Burn Notice. He most recently appeared in CBS' The Good Wife and NBC's Smash.